Wild-Canucks Preview

Vancouver looks to avoid going into the Olympic break on a three-game losing streak when it faces the Minnesota Wild.

The Canucks opened a four-game homestand earlier this week following a 3-4-0 road trip during which they were held to three goals or fewer five times. They have averaged 2.81 goals per game on the road this season and 3.93 at home.

Vancouver, however, has scored just three times in its last two games, losing 4-2 to St. Louis on Wednesday and 3-1 to Anaheim on Friday. The homestand began with a 7-4 win over Columbus on Monday.

In the loss to the Mighty Ducks, Markus Naslund scored his team-leading 26th goal, but goaltender Alex Auld was pulled with 2:44 left in the opening period after allowing three goals on 13 shots.

The defeat marked the first time this season Vancouver was unable to earn a point in consecutive home games and dropped the Canucks to sixth in the Western Conference, one point behind Northwest Division rival Colorado.

"I don't have the answers," Naslund said of his team's sluggish starts. "It has to do with individual focus that we're not ready. It used to be our trademark that we always came out flying and caught a lot of teams by surprise, and we haven't had it this year."

Naslund has two goals and three assists during a three-game points streak. In 30 games against the Wild in his career, including the playoffs, he has 10 goals and 19 assists.

Vancouver has not lost in its last four home games (two wins, two ties) against Minnesota, giving up six goals.

The Wild, last in the Northwest but trailing first-place Calgary by just 11 points, opened a five-game road trip with a 6-3 win over Edmonton on Friday.

The victory improved the Wild to 9-4-0 in their last 13 games.

Pierre-Marc Bouchard scored twice during a 16-second span in the first and added two assists for his first career four-point game, helping backup goalie Dwayne Roloson snap a personal four-game losing streak.

Roloson, who upped his record to 6-16-1 this season, hadn't won since a 4-2 victory over Detroit on Jan. 3.

"We've got to get this guy back on track," Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire said. "He was solid."

As was Bouchard.

"Everything was going my way," the 21-year-old right wing said. "It was huge to come here and get those two points."

Bouchard already has doubled his previous career-high point total of 22, with 12 goals and 32 assists in 56 games this season.